US Tells Kenya to Support Israel or Forget Free Trade Deal

Although Kenya has often recognized Israel, it rarely makes public statements endorsing either Israel or Palestine, supports the two-state solution, and allows Palestine to operate a representative office in Nairobi. 

This condition, among others in the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Washington and Nairobi, is seen as a way to "entrap" Kenya into the Israel-Palestine conflict, requiring that the country does not openly show support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) global campaign.

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The deal, as seen by The East African newspaper, prohibits actions that prejudice or discourage business between the U.S. and Israel, arguing the FTA should "discourage politically motivated actions to boycott, divest from or sanction Israel." The U.S. further wants the: "elimination of politically-motivated, non-tariff barriers on Israeli goods, services or other commerce imposed on Israel; and the elimination of state-sponsored, unsanctioned foreign boycotts of Israel, or compliance with the Arab League Boycott of Israel."

Raising a petition opposing the negotiations under these conditions, the coordinator of the East African Tax and Governance Network and vice-president of the International Relations Society of Kenya, Leonard Wanyama, said: "Due to Kenya's own special relationship with Israel and its pragmatic approach in dealing with tensions in the Middle East, U.S. demands for such political connotations in the USTFA would undercut the country's reputation."